'Of course. I sympathize with you, my dears,' Lady Tolerance said. 'I fully understand your view and your want. The Proctor is better at being direct, so he shall say what needs be said.'
'The reemergence of the chief one of Evil has closed off this universe, heroes, from the remainder of the cosmos. Its gates have been slammed shut and barred fast. We must look only to the resources at hand. Is that much clear?' The Master of Time waited for assent or questions. Evidently, all three of them understood that only the spheres of existence that formed their own particular universe were now open to them — and to Tharizdun. They had no questions.
This neither strengthens or weakens either party, although it does limit options. Ravages beyond this pale are not permitted, nor can aid or refuge be found anywhere else either. When one faction or the other triumphs, then no force known can keep the many portals held shut The bounds are thus established for the battle.'
'Tharizdun? Entropy? What of them?'
Proctor Chronos seemed annoyed at the interruption. 'Let me go about this in an orderly fashion, one point at a time. As the Champion of Balance, you and your two associates have your greatest strength in the material realms and those that form them — the elements, shadow, thought, and all that lot. We two are only marginally involved in those places, for our concerns extend to so many other spheres and farflung locales.
'Tharizdun seeks to rule the cosmos. He must begin in this universe, just as he has. First he masters the nether realms, then captures the inner spheres, then assails the spheres of highest sort. That accomplished, the flood of his wickedness may extend well out into the multiverse. Then are Lady Tolerance and I somewhat constrained.
'Entropy rides the archfiend's coattails as a flea on a dog's tail. That flea grows greater, though, and soon after Tharizdun succeeded in his evil aspirations, it would become a mammoth crushing the host into extinction. Then would both time and probability cease to exist. Thus we are both very much desirous that you, Gord the Champion, Gellor, and Leda as well, should emerge the victors in the contest.
Tharizdun and that dull lump. Entropy, even now seek to complete the next step of the whole. They are near to conquering the whole of demonium. That is the nexus of the plan.'
Tharizdun's taking of the Abyss?'
'No, his failure to do so!' Proctor Chronos boomed. 'I will see that the three of you have time to gain the place where the decisive battle is being fought. Lady Tolerance guarantees you the chance of success. Go to the lair of the thing called Ojukalazogadit. There all the remaining demons who oppose Tharizdun are gathered in a final stand.'
They are hated foes, we theirs!' Leda exclaimed. That is suicide. Do you seek to aid Evil and the Lord Entropy?'
'Better to prepare a ground of our choosing, Gord, and await the coming of our enemies to a place where we know — one not spilling over with adversaries,' Gellor advised with no attempt to hide the anger and scorn in his voice. The bard was plainly critical of both of the beings.
Gord was uncertain. He looked at Leda, Gellor, then at Lady Tolerance and Proctor Chronos. 'What my friends say is very apt reasoning. The demons would gladly rend us to bits for loosing Tharizdun, let alone slaying many of them beforehand. Having a choice of battleground is also much to the advantage of the defender, I think. What say you to that?'
'No besieged place can withstand the assaults of an enemy who grows ever stronger while the defense is worn away little by little. To wait for Tharizdun to come to you is to accept death — death for you, all life, and the multiverse, too,' the Mistress of Probabilities said to the three.
'You must listen to Lady Tolerance,' Chronos lectured. 'She is but stating facts. The strategy we have devised for you has not just a chance, it has the only chance possible.
'True, demons are scorpions and adders, striking any near without cause — unreasoningly. Yet will Tolerance and I lend you our powers in this regard. There will be no chance to strike, not time to find opportunity — provided you use the situation to advantage. The masters of demonium will see you as an aid to their cause, and they and the rest fear the might of Courflamme and the troubador's kanteel too. Furthermore, the rings will make your auras most awesome to all netherbeings. So if you Journey there immediately, locate Tharizdun, and confront him without hesitation, there is the possibility of your triumphing. Do not linger, seek no assistance from any, even if some mighty demonking offers it!'
'And if we fail?'
'Then you will die then and there — or elsewhere, as the case may be,' the giant-sized ruler of time said with finality. 'You now have our counsel, the benefit of our plan, and the assurance of our help,' he concluded. Proctor Chronos folded his arms and stood unspeaking.
'Well, my dear heroes?' coaxed Lady Tolerance.
After a long pause, Gord spoke. 'We will attempt it,' he said, knowing he could speak for all three. 'How may we return to the Abyss most quickly?'
'We anticipated Just such a willingness,' Lady Tolerance said with a smile. 'Chronos and I have bent both time and probability to allow for your insertion into the dual fabric of both at a moment which is only marginally removed from this one. You are as ready and able as ever three heroes were, so now you need only depart. Go straight there to the stratum of the demon world which!s called Ojukalazogadit.'
'Our mode of transport?'
Chronos spoke again. 'Ah, that is what I forgot. Those bands you wear on your fingers will keep you three together and safe. The dark force of your sword. Champion, has ample power to transfer you from this sphere to that of the demons without need to traverse the many planes and dimensions which intervene. You will be swept there on the optional stream which measures time in the nether planes.'
'Show us how to wade into the current this moment,' Gord said with a fatalism that indicated much. 'Scant hope is better than none, and we are beggars before the table of the rich, it would seem.'
'Stand there and do thus,' Tolerance instructed. 'You think so badly of us both, I know, but it is all we can do. . and more.'
If she said anything else, the three didn't hear, for they were gone.
Chapter 21
Nightmare battles of the sort that was raging were no longer strange to them, but all three shuddered on being suddenly precipitated onto the horrible field nonetheless. Leda, most inured of them all to the vileness of the Abyss, was as shaken as either Gord or Gellor, more so perhaps.
'I had hoped never to have to see this realm again, should I live to be a hundred centuries old,' the elven girl murmured with clenched Jaw as she stared around her.
'At least we gain the respect promised by. . our half-hearted allies,' the bard said, noting the chitinous excretion that Ojukalazogadit had suddenly created between them and itself immediately on their arrival. The demon-brute would not have their feet touch its being.
There was also a movement of nearby demonwarriors, a jostling to get well clear of the three figures who had suddenly materialized near their lines. 'They act as sheep when wolves come near.'
'Such sheep!' Leda managed to jest.
'And what wolves we make,' Gord added wryly. 'The fighting here is of usual sort for this place — tens of thousands of disgusting creatures howling and screaming and tearing each other to pieces. Nowhere do I see signs of the leaders engaged in more esoteric struggles. We must find Graz'zt and the other powerful ones here. Surely if Tharizdun is anywhere on this layer, he will be intent on facing his chief enemies.'
'Dare we venture at large on Ojukalazogadit?'
'Dare we stand as bumps, girl?' Gellor said with a hard laugh. 'This brute seems loath to have aught of our force touch its expanse. Perhaps it will make a pathway of cobbles for us to march over.'
'Or try to swallow us whole,' Leda countered, and neither she nor the others smiled.
There came a distant braying of great horns, and a thunderous series of noises indicating opposing dweomers at play. At that moment the surface of the demon-brute heaved as an ocean does during a storm, the waves of the motion rolling away in the direction of the sound. 'Look!' Gord exclaimed. 'The very land seems to rise up to fight
